Method for connecting ignitors in an ignition system

ABSTRACT

Errors may occur in a detonating system that consists of several detonating circuits when the connection—the logging-on—of detonators is effected to the buses of a logger which in turn is connected to a blaster. Connecting is effected, particularly in opencast-mining operations, under conditions that may lead to damage, not visible at first, in particular to the insulation of the detonators and also of the detonating lines. Errors may occur in the transmission of data, for example as a result of loss or falsification of the signals to be transmitted or as a result of intrusion of signals from an extraneous detonator. 
     In accordance with the invention it is therefore proposed that a log-on manager is installed which is in bidirectional contact with the loggers, with the blaster and with the log-data communicators of the loggers which signal the data pertaining to the detonators to the logger. The log-on manager coordinates the logging of the detonators on to the respective bus as well as the programming of the detonators and checks whether an error-free transmission of data is taking place.

The invention relates to a method for connecting detonators to adetonating system, the method corresponding to the preamble to the firstclaim.

A detonating system consists of a plurality of detonators which areconnected to a bus which in turn starts from a so-called logger. Alogger is a device for reading and storing data, in which the relevantdata pertaining to a detonator can be stored. A detonating system mayconsist of several detonating circuits: this means that several loggersare present, to each of which is connected a bus with a plurality ofdetonators. The loggers are in turn connected to a detonating device ora tripping apparatus, a so-called blaster, from which the detonators canbe detonated in a predetermined temporal sequence on the basis of adetonation command. In addition to the transmission of signals, thebuses that emanate from the loggers may also serve for supplying energyto the detonators, in particular for the purpose of charging thedetonating capacitors. Detonating systems of this type are employed, forexample, in the open-cast mining of mineral resources, of ores or coal,or in the pit-and-quarrying industry.

In order to be able to address the detonators individually with respectto their delay-time, detonators exist that have an identification code.This code may consist, for example, of an identification number or a barcode applied to the detonator externally and able to be read off. Theidentification code may also be stored in the electronics of thedetonator. If this identification code is stored in the logger, thedetonator can be addressed by the programming-and-storage electronics ofthe logger if a function, a delay-time for example, is to be stored inthe detonator.

After the bus from the logger has been installed, the detonators, withtheir detonating line connected to the bus of the logger assigned tothe, are logged on. If several loggers with appropriate buses aredistributed in the terrain, logging-on of the detonators to the busescan be effected simultaneously. When a detonator is being connected tothe bus, the person doing the connecting, the logger-on, communicatesthe identification code of the respective detonator to the loggerassigned to the detonator, for example by radio. At the same time thelogger-on can additionally communicate to the logger the geographicalcoordinates of the borehole into which the detonator is lowered. Thecoordinates of the borehole and also the identification code of thedetonator can be combined into a so-called address, under which therespective detonator can be addressed individually from the logger.Determination of the coordinates of the borehole can be effected, forexample, by means of GPS (Global Positioning System) or by means of theDGPS (Differential Global Positioning System).

Logging-on of the detonators to the bus is effected, particularly inopencast-mining operations, under conditions that may lead to damagewhich is not visible at first, in particular to the insulation of thedetonators and also of the detonating lines. Such damage can lead toshunts, in particular a shunt from detonator to detonator. If theseshunts arise between detonators that are simultaneously connected todifferent buses, errors in the transmission of data may occur, forexample as a result of loss or falsification of the signals to betransmitted or as a result of intrusion of signals pertaining to anextraneous detonator.

The object of the present invention is to present a method with whichthe faults and errors that have been described can be avoided.

This object is accomplished with the aid of the characteristic featuresof the first claim. Advantageous configurations of the invention areclaimed in the dependent claims.

In accordance with the invention it is proposed that a so-called log-onmanager be installed. Each of the loggers-on carries a transceiver, alog-data communicator which has its own identification code and whichserves for communicating the identification codes and the datapertaining to the geographical coordinates of the detonators to thelogger assigned to it. These transceivers are designed for bidirectionalcontact both with the logger assigned to them in the given case and tothe log-on manager. The log-on manager is in bidirectional contact withall the loggers and with all the log-data communicators which arecarried by the loggers-on. Contact may be made via lines or by radio.

The method according to the invention for logging detonators on to thedetonating circuit of a detonating system takes place as described here.A detonator is to be logged on to the bus of a logger by a logger-on. Tothis end, the logger-on who wishes to connect the detonator announceshis presence by means of his log-data communicator to the log-on managerwhich recognises him from the identification code and can consequentlyassign the associated logger. Logging-on can be effected, for example bymeans of radio for example, by a signal with the identification codecommunicated to the log-on manager by virtue of a keystroke. The log-onmanager acknowledges the log-on with a signal to the log-datacommunicator. If no other detonator is connected at the moment, anenabling signal is communicated for the purpose of logging-on thedetonator. Otherwise a message is sent to the effect that thetransmission of data is not possible. By this means, a corruption of thesignals to be communicated as a result of the possibilities of errorlisted above is advantageously prevented from occurring.

The signals may be communicated optically, acoustically or mechanically,for example by vibrations, to the logger-on by the log-datacommunicator. At the same time, the logger assigned to the logger-on isswitched to receiving by the log-on manager, in order that thecorresponding data can be read in by the detonator to be connected. Thisaddressing of the logger by the log-on manager can only be effected ifit knows the identification code of the logger. Consequently it ispossible that when a logger-on announces his presence the log-on managercan turn directly to the appropriate logger, in order that the lattercan receive the signals of the log-data communicator assigned to thelogger or alternatively the data pertaining to a detonator announcingits presence itself when logging on to the bus.

If the logger-on has now received the confirmation from the log-onmanager that the detonator can be connected to the bus, it implementsthis connection and acknowledges the logging-on by the transmission ofthe identification code and possibly the position of the connecteddetonator if the ascertaining thereof—through the use of the GPS or theDGPS, for example—is possible.

If, by reason of the possibilities of error defined above, the loggernow detects that the communicated data are incomplete or faulty, it canreport the error immediately and, for example, communicate it visuallyon a display for the logger-on. As a result, faulty detonators or afaulty connection can be immediately detected.

As a result of the connecting of detonators in several detonatingcircuits to several buses it may happen that two or more loggers-onannounce their presence to the log-on manager simultaneously. However,the log-on managers only allows one logging-on at a time, so that ineach instance only one logger-on is offered the possibility ofconnecting a detonator and in each instance only the data pertaining toone detonator are transmitted to the logger assigned to it. Theremaining loggers-on are informed by a signal that they are located, asit were, in a wait-condition, and enabling takes place only when thelogging-on operation of a detonator that is already proceeding has beenconcluded. To this end, a wait-loop may be provided in the log-onmanager, in which the respective loggers-on are arranged in temporalsequence according to the sequence of the incoming message, and thewait-position is optionally indicated to them.

Once a detonator has been successfully logged on to the bus by alogger-on, the logger acknowledges this to the log-data communicatorwith an acknowledging signal.

Thereafter the logger-on can notify the log-on manager of the successfullogging-on of the detonator by virtue of a signal. The acknowledgingsignal of the logger may, however, also go directly to the log-onmanager and may serve at the log-data communicator only as an indicationof a successful logging-on. After this, the log-on manager can enablethe logging-on of the next detonator for the following logger-on in thewait-loop. The logger-on who has just successfully carried out theconnection of a detonator knows thereafter that he can register theconnection of the following detonator.

The log-on management can also be implemented when the detonatorannounces its presence automatically to the logger when connecting tothe bus. In this case, the logger-on firstly has to draw the attentionof the log-on manager by means of the signal which he generates, to thefact that he intends to log a detonator on. Thereupon the log-on managerchecks whether the logging-on operation of a detonator is alreadyrunning at the same time. If this is the case, the logger to whose bus adetonator is to be logged on is barred to the reception of the datauntil such time as the logging-on operation of a preceding detonator toanother logger has been concluded. After confirmation of the receptionof the signals of the logged-on detonator by virtue of the acknowledgingsignal of the logger, either the logger-on can communicate thesuccessful logging-on to the log-on manager or the signal can godirectly to the log-on manager. The log-on manager thereafter sends anenabling signal to the logger to whose bus the detonator is to be loggedon. If the detonator is then connected to the bus, it automaticallysends its identification code to its logger which, in the case of anorderly reception of the signals, acknowledges the connection and storesthe identification code, optionally with the geographical coordinates ofthe detonator, by way of address.

The process according to the invention provides the highest possiblesecurity in the course of the simultaneous logging-on of detonators in adetonating system with several detonating circuits and therefore withseveral loggers.

The log-on manager is suitable, moreover, for the purpose ofcoordinating the communication of the delay-times from the blaster tothe individual detonators via the loggers. Since this transmission ofdata can likewise be impeded and disrupted by the possibilities ofdamage, described above, to the detonators or detonating lines, it isadvantageous if each detonator is addressed individually. In this casethe loggers and the blaster must have an address, in order that they canhe addressed by the log-on manager. The log-on manager then allows thetransmission of data that is to be addressed from the blaster only tothe logger, and from there only to the detonators, and bars theremaining loggers. Once the transmission of data from the blaster to therespective logger and from there to the detonators has been concluded,the blaster can indicate the end of the transmission of data by means ofa signal to the log-on manager. Similarly, the respective logger canreport to the log-on manager the fact that the reception of thedelay-time data by the detonators has taken place and the programming ofthe individual detonators has been concluded. On the basis of thesesignals the log-on manager can switch off the preceding logger andswitch the following logger to receiving. The method according to theinvention guarantees that, in the course of the transmission of signalsafter the connecting of the detonators and also in the course of thesubsequent programming of the delay-times, the transmission of signalsof one detonator or logger is not disrupted by the transmission ofsignals of another detonator or logger and that errors in thetransmission are immediately detected and can be assigned to therespective transmitter or receiver, to the detonator or to the logger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will be elucidated in more detail on the basis of anexemplifying embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The attached representation shows a detonating system 1 with fourseparate detonating circuits 2 to 5. Each of the detonating circuits 2to 5 consists of a bus 6 to 9 which in each case starts from a logger 10to 13 and to which the detonators 14 with their detonating line 15 areconnected—that is to say, are logged on—at the connection-point 16. Aperson, a logger-on 17 to 20, in each of the four detonating circuits 2to 5, is busy logging detonators on to the respective buses 6 to 9. Thelogger-on 17 is just in the process of logging a detonator 14, with itsdetonating line 16, on to the bus 6 of the detonating circuit 2 at aconnection-point 16. The logger-on 20 wishes to proceed similarly at thesame time.

Each of the loggers-on 17 to 20 has a transceiver, a log-datacommunicator 21, which has its own identification code. These log-datacommunicators 21 are suitable for bidirectional contact both with therespective loggers 10 to 13 and with the log-on manager 22.

In the present exemplifying embodiment, the transmission of data wouldbe endangered in the case of a shunt of the detonators if there might bea simultaneous connection of detonators 14 by the logger-on 17 and thelogger-on 20. In order to avoid this, both the logger-on 17 and thelogger-on 20 have registered with the log-on manager 22 via theirlog-data communicators 21 by specifying their respective identificationcode. The log-on manager 22 can assign the loggers-on to the respectivelogger on the basis of the identification code of the respectivelog-data communication 21. In this way the logger-on 17 is assigned tothe logger 10, and the logger-on 20 is assigned to the logger 13.

In the present exemplifying embodiment the logger-on 17 has, assymbolized by the radio contact 23, announced his presence to the log-onmanager 22 before the logger-on 20, whose radio contact is symbolized bythe dashed line 24, so that the log-on manager 22 switches the logger 10on via the radio contact 25 which is indicated and allows the logger-on17 to connect a detonator 14 ahead of the logger-on 20. After the log-onmanager 22 has given the logger-on 17 the permission for logging thedetonator 14 on at the connection-point 16, this logger-on communicatesto the logger on the identification code of the detonator 14 andoptionally the position of the borehole, in the present case by means ofthe log-data communicator 21, likewise by radio, to the logger 10. Thistransmission of data is symbolized by the radio contact 26. Once thedata pertaining to the detonator have been communicated to the logger10, the latter reports the orderly reception of the data to the log-datacommunicator 21 of the logger-on 17 via the radio link 26 which isindicated. Said logger-on 17 thereupon acknowledges the successfullyaccomplished logging-on operation by means of a signal to the log-onmanager 22 via the radio link 23. Thereupon, the message is sent via theradio contact 24 which is indicated to the log-data communicator 21 ofthe logger-on 20 with the enabling notification for the purpose oflogging the detonator 14, which has been held in readiness, on to thebus 9. Once the detonator has been successfully connected to the bus 9by the logger-on 20, he acknowledges this connection by means of a radiosignal to the log-on manager 22, so that the latter can pass on theenabling to another logger-on with a view to logging a detonator on.

Once all the detonators 14 that are ready have finally been logged on tothe respective buses 6 to 9 of the detonating circuits 2 to 5, theprogramming of the detonators with respect to their time-delay iseffected from the detonating device or from the tripping apparatus, theso-called blaster 27. The latter may be linked to the respective loggers10 to 13 via lines 28 to 31. However, although not represented here, aradio link may exist between the blaster 27 and the respective loggers.Moreover, a link exists, via a line 32 or via a radio link 33 which isindicated, between the blaster 27 and the log-on manager 22. The log-onmanager 22 is equipped for the purpose of switching the loggers 10 to 13on and off separately in each instance if the delay-times in thedetonators 14, for example, are to be stored by the blaster 27 in therespective detonating circuits 2 to 5. To this end, firstly there is acommunication from the blaster 27 to the log-on manager 22 as to whichof the loggers 10 to 13 of the detonating circuits 2 to 5 is to beaddressed. In the present exemplifying embodiment the log-on manager 22has entered into-a connection with the logger 10 via the radio contact34 which is indicated here and has switched it on for the reception ofthe data from the blaster 27, whereas the following loggers 11 to 13 areswitched via the remaining radio contacts 35 in such a way that theycannot receive the data intended only for the logger 10. Only aftercommunication of the data that are intended for the detonating circuit 2do a switch-over to the following logger and a disabling of thepreceding logger, which has already received the data, take place, andthe barring of the loggers to which these data are likewise not directedis retained.

Only when all the data have been communicated from the blaster 27 to therespective detonating circuits 2 to 5 can the detonators be detonated bythe blaster 27 via the respective loggers.

1. A method for connecting detonators to a detonating system comprisingseveral detonating circuits in which a plurality of detonators areconnected to respective buses which each start from a logger which isconnected to a blaster assigned to all the loggers, by which thedetonators are detonated in a predetermined temporal sequence on thebasis of a detonation command, wherein a log-on manager is installedwhich is in bidirectional contact with the loggers, with the blaster andwith log-data communicators of the loggers, which signal data pertainingto the detonators to the logger, wherein when logging the detonators onto the buses of the detonating circuits of the detonating system alogger-on, the person who connects with the detonators, announces hispresence to the log-on manager, in that the log-on manager recognizesthe logger-on from an identification code assigned to him and assignshim to the logger to whose bus the logger-on wishes to connect thedetonators, in that the log-on manager checks whether a detonator isbeing connected and data are being transmitted at the time of reporting,in that, when no data are being transmitted, the logger assigned to thebus for communicating the data pertaining to the detonator to beconnected is switched to receiving and wherein when another detonator isalready being connected, the log-on manager sends a message to thelog-data communicator to the effect that a transmission of data is notpossible, in that the connection of the detonator to the assigned loggeris only enabled when the transmission of data pertaining to the otherdetonator has been concluded and in that the data communicated from thedetonators form the basis for the temporal sequence of the detonation ofthe individual detonators.
 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein thelogger-on announces his presence with his identification code, thelog-on manager turns directly to the appropriate logger and, when it isnot presently occupied by a transmission of data, switches it toreceiving in respect of the signals of the log-data communicatorassigned to the logger or alternatively in respect of the datapertaining to a detonator announcing its presence itself when logging-onto the bus.
 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the logger-on hasreceived the confirmation from the log-on manager that he can connectthe detonator to the bus, he implements the connection of the detonatorand acknowledges the logging-on by the transmission of theidentification code.
 4. A method according to claim 3, wherein theposition of a connected detonator in the detonating system iscommunicated to the log-on manager.
 5. A method according to claim 1,wherein two or more loggers-on announce their presence to the log-onmanager with a view to connecting detonators, the log-on managerarranges the messages according to the sequence of their input into await-loop, optionally indicates a wait-position and enables a log-onoperation only when a preceding log-on operation of a detonator has beensuccessfully concluded or the noting of the error message of anon-orderly connection has been confirmed.
 6. A method according toclaim 1 wherein the data that have been communicated in the course oflogging on are incomplete or faulty, the logger reports the error to thelog-data communicator and the error is signaled at the log-datacommunicator or is indicated on a display of the log-data communicator.7. A method according to claim 1, wherein a detonator has beensuccessfully logged on to a bus by a logger-on, the logger acknowledgesthis at the log-data communicator with an acknowledging signal andthereafter the logger-on communicates the successful logging-on to thelog-on manager.
 8. A method according to claim 1, wherein a detonatorhas been successfully logged on to a bus by a logger-on, the loggerreports this directly to the log-on manager and a corresponding signalappears at the log-data communicator.
 9. A method according to claim 1,wherein a communication of delay times from the blaster to theindividual detonators via the loggers is coordinated by the log-onmanager, by the blaster and the loggers, in addition to the individualdetonators, also having an address allocated to them by the log-onmanager for the purpose of individual addressing, in that thetransmission of data is regulated by the log-on manager in such a waythat at all times only one logger and, via the latter at all times, onlyone detonator is addressed by the bluster and the remaining loggers aredisabled and in that, when the transmission of data from the blaster tothe respective logger and from there in each instance to the detonatorshas been concluded, the logger reports in each instance the orderlyreception of the data by the detonators to the log-on manager and inthat, after conclusion of the programming of the detonators that areconnected to a logger, said logger is switched off by the log-on managerand the following logger is switched to receiving.
 10. A methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the transmission of signals between thelog-on manager and the log-data communicators is effectedbidirectionally by means of radio technology.
 11. A method according toclaim 1, wherein the transmission of signals between the log-on managerand the loggers is effected bidirectionally by means of radiotechnology.
 12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the transmissionof signals between the log-on manager and the blaster is effectedbidirectionally by means of radio technology.
 13. A method according toclaim 2, wherein the logger-on has received the confirmation from thelog-on manager that he can connect the detonator to the bus, heimplements the connection of the detonator and acknowledges thelogging-on by the transmission of the identification code.